Want a caricature of yourself or a family member – a perfect Valentine's Day, Father's Day, Mother's day gift?

Or, do you have any graphic design assignments, odd art jobs or design work including desktop publishing?

Send a note to my friend Arindam Mukherjee. His portfolio is on his website.

Arindam is the artist responsible for the Tiffinbox mascot you see on this website. When I hand out my business cards with the Tiffinbox logo I always receive a smile, then a compliment and then a chuckle. Arindam is great to work with and his creative vision is bound to impress you as well.

If I had an iPod, I would have PodBazaar dialed in. I think you should too. Know of any good [and I mean well-produced, though not necessarily slick] desi podcasts? Please email me at tiffinbox [at] pipalproductions [dot] com, if you have direct links to them.

50 States, 50 Photographers PDN's annual salute to American photographers

Dina points us to the welcome news that a National Disaster Information System has been launched in India. I say bravo! Will this inspire the Americans to get their act together? Did you know that the fire fighters and the police in NYC operate on different frequencies [yes, even today]? Had they been able to really communicate with one another a great many lives could have been saved. Here is what I have to implore the Indian government to do – please TEST the system before a disaster strikes. Passing the buck if and when the system fails will not be acceptable.

The graphical display of news: What's Up? and Newsmap [very cool, though will you remember to visit these sites often enough to get your fill?]

Nikon's Legends Behind The Lens features David Alan Harvey

Photographers Ford Gilbreath and Martin Weber Win First “No Strings” Grants worth $25,000. As the article suggests, don't bother looking up No Strings Foundation or Grants. It operates much like the MacArthur Foundation‘s “genius grant” – you can't apply, but you are chosen by a select group of individuals who have their own unlisted metrics on who gets awarded the grant. Some things, I guess are best left unsaid.

DesignTimes, South Africa's Creative Resource

World Press Photo Winners Gallery

Dave Taylor at The Intuitive Life Business Blog interviews cartoonist Krishna Sadasivam, the creator of PC Weenies.

Beyond Shotz promises to be a monthly photography journal from photo enthusiasts.

The first issue, as a PDF can be downloaded here. It is produced in Bangalore by a clutch of dedicated photographers. The design is simple and elegant. The content is sublime and diverse. The first issue discusses copyright issues, has a terrific gallery and highlights the work of one of my favorite photographers, Kalyan Varma. Check it out.

I promise you the first issue will have you panting for more. [tip'd off by Siddharth Siva]

Announcing the third and fourth Bliss Book Offer winners. Waqim, from Surrey in British Columbia and Ruchita in Gurgaon, India, have won the third and fourth copies of The Space Between Us, Thrity Umrigar‘s new novel.

Two more copies of the book to go. Simply follow the directions and you too could win a copy of Umrigar's book [valued at $24.95].